Decorative necktie knot

ABSTRACT

A decorative necktie knot device that replaces the need for a necktie knot altogether. The decorative necktie knot consists of a one-piece continuous body having a pair of slots for receiving the bottom portions of a conventional necktie knot. The decorative necktie knot has a generally triangularly shaped front face ( 38 ) with side panels ( 39, 37 ). The right side panel and left side panel fold upon one another to form a cavity to receive the necktie. Attached to the side panels are fastening means ( 53, 54 ) to secure and define the shape and cavity. A single opening at the bottom of the front face permits the traditional necktie to emerge from the decorative necktie knot.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a decorative necktieknot that does not involve tying a necktie into a traditional knot. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to forming a decorativenecktie knot that has the size, shape, and function of a traditionalknot, wherein the ends of the necktie are passed through the decorativeknot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] It is conventional for one to wrap a necktie about the neck ofthe wearer and to manually tie the same into a knot. This is generallyaccomplished through manipulation of the material of the necktie to forma loop, and inserting one of the end of the necktie through the loop tohand tie the knot. Under certain circumstances, particularly when nomirror is present, it can become difficult and time consuming to performsuch the manual tying operation for a necktie. Moreover, many youngerboys and handicapped persons have a difficult time tying the traditionalnecktie. Moreover, after a necktie is untied, wrinkles remain in theportions of the tie used to form the knot and that portion is apt tobecome soiled and dirty, requiring the cleaning of the entire necktie,which often is quite inconvenient.

[0003] To alleviate having to actually tie a necktie, many solutionshave been presented. Many of these solutions provided for a pre-tiednecktie wherein the knot was permanently formed therein. However, suchsolutions had their own disadvantages, including a very limitedselection of neckties which were pre-tied. Moreover, once one purchasedsuch a permanently knotted tie, it was not possible to hand tie theknot, even if one wanted to.

[0004] Many other solutions have been proposed that sought to simplifythe matter of dressing with a four-in-hand tie by eliminating the tyingand untying process. These solutions have invariably comprised whatmight be described as a “pre-tied” arrangement wherein the four-in-handknot is formed around a device, which is inserted into, or surroundedthe collar and the dressing and undressing comprises the step ofattaching this pre tied combination to the collar of the wearer. Suchsolutions require the use of special necktie arrangements that in mostcases do not permit the use of existing conventional ties. Additionally,where existing conventional ties can be used, often, after certain typesof knots are formed, there is practically no necktie left. Previouslyproposed solutions often provided no flexibility insofar as tighteningor loosening of the knot was concerned and also often there was novariety as to the size, shape or color of the necktie knot.

[0005] The present invention provides for a decorative necktie knot,which can be used with a conventional necktie and which serves to formthe knot in the necktie without the necessity for manipulating the endsof the necktie to manually tie a sot. Decorative necktie knots of thepresent invention are interchangeable, so if one gets soiled, it can beeasily replaced with another decorative necktie knot, having the samepattern or a different one.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a completely portable andremovable knot. Many of the disadvantages of previous inventions havebeen overcome and the present invention provides for necktie knots ofvarious sizes, shapes and colors. The knot of the present invention maybe described as being “pre-formed” rather than “pre-tied” as is the casewith previous inventions. By utilizing the present invention, the lengthof neckties can be reduced by up to 8%. Moreover, the present inventioneliminates the problems associated with tying and untying thetraditional necktie knot and achieves an improved appearance, greaterflexibility, and comfort.

[0007] The present invention provides for a decorative necktie knotdevice that replaces the need for a necktie knot altogether. Thedecorative necktie knot consists of a one-piece continuous body having apair of slots for receiving the bottom portions of the necktie. Thedecorative necktie knot having a generally triangularly shaped frontface with side panels on two of the three sides; the right side paneland left side panel, folds to form a cavity for receiving the necktie.Attached to the side panel are fastening means to secure and define theshape and cavity. An opening at the bottom of the front face permits thetie to emerge from the decorative necktie knot. The decorative necktieknot is secured around the necktie until removal is desired. Thecombination permits a conventional necktie to be placed inside thedecorative necktie knot. The ends of the necktie are inserted into therespective decorative necktie knot slots and then the side panels arefolded so as to overlap such that the fasteners mate. The decorativenecktie knot is then adjusted against the collar, thereby eliminatingthe tying and untying of the necktie. The decorative necktie knot of thepresent invention provides for the use of a conventional tie and a novelknot, which may or may not correspond with the color scheme or fabric ofthe tie itself.

[0008] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea decorative necktie knot that can manually be attached to a necktie toform a necktie knot at the juncture of the wearer's collar wherein thetails or ends of the necktie are not actually inter-knotted with eachother.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a tie knotthat can be quickly and easily attached to any existing conventionalnecktie and when so attached, presents the appearance of a knot having acontrasting decorative appearance or the same appearance with respect tothe remainder of the necktie.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide aninexpensive unit, which can operate satisfactorily for the purpose ofattaching a necktie and providing a knotted appearance thereto.

[0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide anecktie knot which is simple in construction, easy to assemble andremove, attractive in appearance and relatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

[0012] Still other objects of the invention are to eliminate the need totie the traditional necktie knot and to provide for a simulated knothaving a relatively rigid body.

[0013] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will become more fully understood from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustratedin the accompanying drawings in which reference characters refer to thesame parts throughout different views. The drawings are not necessary toscale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles ofthe invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the decorative necktie knottogether with the necktie hanging around a wearer's neck;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the decorative necktie knot;

[0016]5 FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are the front perspective view and the rearperspective view, respectively, of the template of the decorativenecktie knot opened to show it as a one-piece template;

[0017]FIG. 4(a) is a flexible material band that provides the slotsthrough which the ends of a traditional tie pass and FIG. 4(b) is a rearperspective view of the template of the decorative necktie knot to whichthe flexible material band has been attached;

[0018]FIG. 5(a) is a front perspective view and FIG. 5(b) is a rearperspective view of the decorative necktie knot showing snaps as theclosing means,

[0019]FIG. 6(a) is a front perspective view and FIG. 6(b) is a rearperspective view of the decorative necktie knot showing a VELCRO®closing means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The invention will now be described in detail with regard for thebest mode and the preferred embodiment. In general the inventioncomprises a decorative necktie knot, in which a necktie passes through anecktie knot shell that provides the size and shape of a traditionalnecktie knot. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present inventionapproximates the size and shape of a traditional necktie knot.

[0021] The decorative necktie knot is formed using a template of aflexible, or at least bendable material. Preferably the bendabletemplate material is fabric stiffening, a flexible plastic or some otherflexible material. To maintain the appearance of the decorative necktieknot, the template material should be no more than 2 mm in thickness.Turning now to FIG. 3(a), the front of the template for the decorativenecktie knot 31 consists a rectangle wherein the short sides of therectangle have been rounded to approximate a hexagon. The template isfurther divided into three sections 32, 33 and 34. FIG. 3(b) shows theback side of the template 36 and the corresponding sections, 37, 38 and39. The interface between the sections may be scored in someway tofacilitate bending the template at those interfaces.

[0022] Slots through which both the wide end and the narrow end of thenecktie pass through the decorative necktie knot is formed by affixing aflexible material to sections 37 and 38 of the backside 36 of thetemplate. A preferred flexible material is a fabric band material suchas gross grain ribbon. In FIG. 4(a), the shape of the elastic material40 approximates the shape of sections 37 and 38, except that whenaffixed to the template as shown in FIG. 4(b), a small portion of thetop and bottom of the template is not be covered. However, as shown insome of the later figures, the shape of the flexible material is notimportant, so long as it provides for the formation of slots on theinside of the decorative necktie knot.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4(b), the flexible material 40 must be affixedto the template along the interface between sections 38 and 39 and alongthe curved edge 41 of section 37. In preferable embodiments, theflexible material is also affixed to the template along the interfacebetween sections 37 and 38. Alternatively, two separate pieces offlexible material can be used, one piece affixed to section 37 and theother affixed to section 38. The flexible material can be affixed to thetemplate in any of several ways well known to those skilled in the art.In preferred embodiments, the flexible material and the template aresewn together.

[0024] To form the decorative necktie knot, section 37 is folded behindsection 38 such that sections 37 and 38 are adjacent. Then section 39 isfolded such that it becomes adjacent to section 34, i.e., the reverseside of section 37. Finally, sections 34 and 39 are secured by some typeof closing mechanism.

[0025] FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) depict the decorative necktie knot showingsnaps as the closing mechanism. A small snap 51 and a larger snap 52 areplaced on section 34 and their mates 53 and 54, respectively, are placedon section 37. When the decorative necktie knot is formed according tothe invention, 51 and 53 and 52 and 54 mate to close the knot. While thesnap arrangement depicted in FIGS. 5(a) and (b) is preferred, theinvention is operable with just one snap arrangement, particularly ifthe snap members are located near the center of sections 34 and 37.Similarly, FIG. 6(a) and 6(b) depict the decorative necktie knot showingVELCRO® as the closing mechanism. As with the snaps, VELCRO® is appliedto sections 34 and 37 to close the decorative necktie knot.

[0026] In preferred embodiments, the template is covered with fabricusing methods well known to those skilled in the art. The fabriccovering the decorative necktie knot may be identical complementary orcontrasting to the tie for which the decorative necktie knot is to beworn, in color and/or fabric and/or direction of the pattern. Theproduction of the decorative necktie knot with different fabrics ormaterials allows the wearer to coordinate the knot with ties alreadyowned or to be purchased in the future.

[0027] Instead of tying a tie into a traditional knot by manipulatingthe tie itself into a knot, the decorative necktie knot can be easilyplaced over the tie at the base of the wearer's neck, while the tie ishanging around the wearer's neck. Consequently, shorter ties can bemanufactured and fabric that is saved by manufacturing shorter ties canbe used to manufacture the matching knot. Moreover, the changing offabric is an inexpensive manufacturing change for the manufacturers.

[0028] The design, shape and/or size of the template can be easilymodified to make decorative necktie knots of various styles. Moreover,depending on how the template is folded, it may be possible to use thesame template to male both traditional and Windsor knots. Thedistinctiveness of the decorative necktie knot can be enhanced byincluding ornamentation, such as decorative snaps or simulatedgemstones, on section 22.

[0029] It is contemplated that the equivalents and substitutions forcertain components may be obvious to those skilled in the art, however,the described invention is novel and non-obvious and the scope anddefinition of the invention is set forth in the following claims.

Accordingly, what is claimed is:
 1. A decorative necktie knot comprisinga bendable template, generally having the shape of a rectangle whereinthe short sides have been gently rounded to approximate a hexagon, saidtemplate having a front and a rear side and said template further havinga first face, a second face, and a third face, and a bendable memberpermanently affixed to said first and second faces of the rear side ofsaid template such that slots are formed on the rear sides of said firstand second faces, wherein said necktie knot is formed by (a) foldingsaid second face behind said first face, such that the rear sides ofsaid first and second faces are adjacent; (b) folding said third face,such that the rear side of said third face is adjacent to the front sideof said second face; and (c) securing the rear side of said third faceto the front side of the second by means of a closing mechanism suchthat the slot on the rear side of said first face can receive the largeend of a necktie and the slot on the rear side of the second face canreceive the small end of a necktie.
 2. The necktie knot of claim 1,wherein the bendable template is a bendable material covered by fabricon its front side.
 3. The necktie knot of claim 1, wherein the bendabletemplate is fabric stiffing.
 4. The necktie knot of claim 1, wherein thebendable template is a plastic.
 5. The necktie knot of claim 1, whereinthe bendable member is an elastic material.
 6. The necktie knot of claim5, wherein the elastic material is gross grain ribbon.
 7. The necktieknot of claim 1, wherein the closing mechanism consists of VELCRO®attached to the rear side of the second face and the front side of thethird face.
 8. The necktie knot of claim 1, wherein the closingmechanism consists of at least one snap on the rear side of the secondface and at least one mating snap on the front side of the third face.9. The necktie knot of claim 1, wherein a decorative element is affixedto the front side of the third face.
 10. The necktie knot of claim 8,wherein the decorative element is a snap that mate with a snap on therear side of the second face.